When Corbin Sharun puts on his Edmonton Eskimos game jersey Sunday, he will run down the tunnel with the team he grew up watching.

After getting drafted in the sixth round, 43rd overall, in May, the Leduc product was activated from the practice roster in time to dress for Week 2 of the regular season.

Former ’Cat

“I had no idea it was going to be this quick, but obviously they see that I’m working hard in practice and everything like that so I’m getting my shot now and I’m going to take advantage of it,” said Sharun, who played quarterback with St. Francis Xavier University before joining the Edmonton Wildcats junior team as a safety.

Sharun began taking special-teams repetitions with the first team

“I kind of clued in when I stayed there Friday that something must be happening,” said Sharun, who has been going full speed since rookie camp last month.

“The next gear is going to happen in the game where I’m going to show that I can play, that they didn’t make a mistake. That I know my stuff, I know what I’m supposed to do and that I’m doing everything right.”

Up until now, Sharun has had to settle for wearing a practice shirt and mainly working on the scout team. But that will all change Sunday when he puts on his official No. 39 jersey.

“It’s going to be huge,” said Sharun, 22, who played minor football in Leduc before joining the Strathcona Lords in high school. “I thought it was big when we played the exhibition games, this is going to be even crazier since this is the regular season now.”

Injuries to Elliott Richardson and Jason Nugent saw Sharun climb the ladder on the depth chart to sit behind fellow 2010 draft pick (second round, 12th overall) Saleem Borhot, who is expected to make his first CFL start.

While Borhot will likely share time at free safety with defensive back and return man Weldon Brown Sunday, Sharun’s chief duties will be on special teams.

But he has to be ready for any further injuries.

Ready for anything

“If something happens it’s going to happen so I’ve got to play. That’s why they put me there,” said the five-foot-11, 214-pounder. “It shows, for my size and stuff, I can play special teams, I can be a big force there and do everything I can and also be able to back up the secondary.”

Sharun moves into the active roster spot held by defensive end Greg Peach, who was moved to the nine-game injured list after spraining his ankle last Sunday against the B.C. Lions.